India’s spinner Yuzvendra Chahal still holds an important place in the side. However, his performance has not been very alarming, to keep for India to keep going with him. Yuavendra was once the important member of the squad with his partner Kuldeep Yadav. The duo of KULCHA was effective for India at one stage.
But once the bowling form of Kuldeep Yadav went for a toss. Yuzvendra Chahal also struggled to keep the form and his rhythm going. Chahal has an ace spin bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore as Skipper Virat Kohli has persisted with him in franchise Cricket. That not the case anymore for Kohli regarding Chahal when he plays for India.
Spin bowler in Indian squad
Chahal is a spin bowler who MS Dhoni often guided behind the stumps. Once Mahi Bhai retired, Pant and KL Rahul have not been doing the same for Kuldeep and Chahal, and that is why both the spin bowlers lost their places in the side.
The other thing which went against Chahal is that India wants a longer batting lineup for the ODI and T20 Cricket. That is why a bowler like Chahal is not preferred because he cannot bat down the order. Chahal recently struggled to do well against England in the limited over series, and his bowling performance also was not the same for RCB. he took a while to pick up his first wicket of the IPL 2021 season as well.
Chahal has picked up a six-wicket haul in T20Is, a rarity in Cricket, and his performance in one-day international format has also been decent. He may be considered for the upcoming World T20 in October later this year. But we think that Yuzendra Chahal can be replaced by these four players in the India squad from now.
Axar Patel
If Indian is looking to strengthen their batting in the T20 format, they should add Axar Patel to their squad. Axar did well with the ball in his debut Test series. But he failed to do well in the limited overs against England, which is why he was dropped. In IPL 2021 season, Axar did well for his Delhi Capitals franchise. Despite being tested COVID positive, Axar came back strongly in the match against SRH and almost won the game for his franchise.
Axar lost his place on the Indian side because of is inconsistency. He was in the squad of India, which played the 2015 world cup, and he is the senior player than Chahal, Sundar, and Kuldeep. Suppose Axar wants to make a comeback, then he should be a consistent performer like he has done for DC in the IPL. Axar can replace Chahal because Axar can give depth in batting.
Washington Sundar
India can also recall Washington Sundar in their line-up. He is also the one who can add depth to India’s batting in all the formats of the game. Sundar has played some handy knocks in Australia in the Test series, which India won recently, and his batting master class also continued in the home series against England. Sundar missed a well-deserved century in that series, and he hopes to get to the milestone one fine day.
Sundar is a useful bowler in the powerplay overs. But Virat Kohli hasn’t used him that way whenever Sundar has played for RCB and India. India had picked up wickets consistently when Sundar bowled in the powerplay overs. If Sundar replaces Chahal in the squad, he should be used in the first six overs of the limited-overs format, and he also can bat well don the order with Ravindra Jadeja.
Ravichandran Ashwin
The news reports said that Ravichandran Ashwin wants to come back into India’s limited overs set up. Kuldeep and Chahal broke into the side after India’s loss to Pakistan in the final of the Champions Trophy in 2017. Jadeja made a comeback into India’s squad after that. But Ashwin is still waiting in the wings. Ashwin has been India’s premier bowler in the Test matches, who was equally good in the one-day and T20 format.
But just one bad game in an ICC event has almost ended his career in limited over format. Ashwin is still fit and accurate with the white ball. He was good with the Punjab Kings franchise earlier and the Delhi Capitals team now. Ashwin has the experience to make a comeback and replace Yuzvendra Chahal in India’s ODI and T20I squad.
Shahbaz Nadeem
Nadeem might be the last option for India, who might replace Yuzvendra Chahal in the ODI and T20I squad. Nadeem had a terrible run in the test series against England in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad. But still, India can give it tey by including him in the squad.
India wants to strengthen their lower-order batting in all three formats. But Nadeem does not bat. Like Chahal is the spin bowler. So, while selecting Nadeem, the selectors, management, coach, and captain Kohli will have to think about this option.